A staggering number of rock carvings in an abandoned quarry.

Climb down into the largest sinkhole in Qatar.

A superb spot to appreciate the traditional boats of the Indian Ocean.

An abandoned fishing village in pre-oil Qatar.

The shallow, salty inlet was a safe haven for 19th-century pirates.

These beautiful historic watchtowers were used for both scanning the desert for enemy invaders and observing the celestial world.

Home of the infamous Rug Man of Doha.

Some of the ancient-looking huts among these strange rock formations aren't ancient at all, but built as part of a movie set.

A 19th century pearling and fishing village abandoned before Qatar's economic boom.

Robot jockeys ride their humped mounts to victory as part of a 21st-century twist on an ancient desert sport.

Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

Modern-day cave dwellers carve elaborate homes out of volcanic debris.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Ancient structures used to make and preserve ice in the deserts of Persia.

The birthplace of an eccentric alchemist and possible inspiration for the fictional reanimator of monsters.

Incredible labyrinth of man made caves.

Visit the ancient, mysterious Roman catacombs ... in the Netherlands.

The ruins of this Dutch castle sit atop a labyrinth of once-secret tunnels and passageways, dating back over 900 years.

This fairy tale forest hides scenes from some of the more obscure and bizarre Western nursery stories.

Take a stroll through the hellish grotesques of Hieronymus Bosch in this elaborate Netherlands church.

One of Amsterdam's narrowest houses is located right across the canal from its widest.

The world's first zoo for microbes collecting the horrible and wonderful things living on and around us.

Established in 1638 to battle the Black Death, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is a treasure trove of rare flora.

Amsterdam's former hotspot for public executions and dissections.